Benin – Rain, Slaves and Religion
A little less cycling, A little more sight-seeing Firstly, apologies for lack of photos in these latest updates – internet is lethargic here and I need to get some km’s…
Togo – A Mix of Religion
Love lost in Kpalime Over the border into Togo I flew down the hill into Kpalime. Another town in Africa. My introduction to Togo. Friendly people. French-speaking. I checked-in, showered…
Cycle Touring Maintenance Essentials
I have written another article for my sponsors Webtogs about some equipment I’ve found particularly useful for maintaining my bike… in particular, a toothbrush! You can read the article here:…
Ghana – The Bike Strikes Back
The third update in the Ghana trilogy and we see the bike making a comeback. The long awaited reappearance! No more excuses for staying in Accra. Time to put the…
Ghana – The Return to Accra
Sequels are often a let-down. The original is rarely surpassed. Ghana, the second time around however, was the exception. Not unexpectedly though. After some R&R, my energy levels and enthusiasm…
Tears and Loathing in Ghana – Bike or Bus, Not Both
This is the long awaited update of my last days in Ghana before I returned to England for a holiday and to get a new passport. Hopefully you won’t have…
10 months of statistics – to Accra
It’s 10 month’s since I left the UK. I’ve made it to Ghana. And it’s time for a summary of the trip so far, by numbers. I’ve posted some statistics…
The Simple Answer – Speaking English in Ghana
Entry into Ghana was overshadowed by leaving Burkina Faso, which I was a little sad to be leaving. But the immigration officials were friendly enough. While one slowly and meticulously…
Tour de Burkina Faso – My Way
Ouagadougou – Bobo – Banfora – Bobo Any Which Way Leaving is always hard. It’s not that I fear the open road. I don’t fear the unknown. On the contrary.…
OK in Ouagadougou
I spent two weeks in Ouaga. Camping in the car-park of the OK Inn Hotel. Sandwiched between a truck park and the hotel reception. Doesn’t sound so OK. But what…
Bamako to Ouagadougou (part 4) – And into Burkina Faso
Leaving Mali Leaving Mali was tougher than I thought. Not due to any particular attachment, although I did enjoy my time there. It was the wind and the rough, corrugated,…
Bamako to Ouagadougou (part 3) – Escape from Timbuktu
I had heard that leaving Timbuktu can be a time-consuming challenge. So when I was in Kourioume, still 10km prior to arriving, I was searching out ways to leave. The…
Bamako to Ouagadougou (part 2) – A Detour to Timbuktu
Djenne Djenne is a sleepy place. Except for Mondays. Monday is market day. Market day means hundreds of people arrive in town, congregate, congest the streets. They usher in goats…
Bamako to Ouagadougou (part 1) – The Harmattan and Hungry
It’s been so long since the last proper update I hardly know what to write about. I guess the simplest thing is to start from where I left off…. and…
Timbuktu Cats
Firstly, Timbuktu is a real place – a dusty town on the edge of the Sahara in Mali. Timbuktu is a place of legend and many early European explorers through…
A Change Can Do You Good
A month’s break from the bike seems to have been the perfect medicine for re-igniting my interest in my travels in West Africa and Mali specifically. It’s been a fascinating…
The Travel Blues in Mali
Mali is famous for it’s music but I haven’t heard much and haven’t tried to find it. I’ve been singing my own song and I’d have to say it’not very…
By The Numbers: Paddling the Niger River
For some numbers relating to our Niger River boat trip, see the article posted over at The Travelers Notebook: http://thetravelersnotebook.com/by-the-numbers/by-the-numbers-paddling-the-niger-river/
…The Great Niger River Boat Trip – Part 5
Day 14: 19th Feb 2010 Fast rapids – Boat unload – Stuck! – Decision to quit in Kouroussa It was a successful start to the day, with calm open water…
The Great Niger River Boat Trip – Part 4
Day 11: Feb 16th 2010 Warthogs – Broken boat – Hippo encounter – Bush fire – Bat exodus – Uniformed and uninformed – Poacher or American? A long, hard morning…